The Design Process Behind the Scenes: How Your Furniture Is Really Made
- John Butterfield
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
As an interior designer, you spend hours perfecting your vision, only for it to be put at the mercy of an external supplier.
Will the detail be right? Will it arrive on time? Will it feel like what you imagined? For bespoke furniture, these questions are even more critical. You're not choosing from a catalogue, you're trusting someone to bring your design to life.
Unfortunately, the behind-the-scenes process is often a black box. You brief the supplier, cross your fingers, and wait for updates. Any issues, a misinterpreted drawing, a material substitution, a surprise delay, not only impact your design but your reputation with the client. And in high-end spaces, there's no room for error. Every curve, cut, and finish must align with the vision, no compromises.
At Innovate Contract Furniture, we believe that understanding the process builds trust, and that trust leads to better design outcomes. Here’s how a bespoke piece moves through our factory, from initial concept to final install:
Job Sign-Off: We start with complete clarity. This is the point where design intent, materials, measurements, and budget are agreed upon. Any ambiguities are ironed out here, so that no assumptions are made later.
Design Translation: Our experienced design team translates your concept into technical requirements. This includes identifying any structural considerations or opportunities for refinement while staying faithful to your vision.
Technical Drawing: CAD drawings are produced with millimetre precision. These are used to program our CNC machinery and guide the rest of the production process, ensuring consistency and accuracy throughout.
Cutting & Machining: Using our Biesse Klever2236 G FT CNC (our latest investment), each component is cut and machined to exacting standards. Automation ensures speed and repeatability, freeing up our craftsmen to focus on detail and quality.
Assembly: Here, our skilled team brings the piece to life. It’s dry-fitted for accuracy, checked for structure, and reviewed for finish quality, all before any final touches are made.
Spraying & Finishing: Whether it’s a deep walnut sheen or a matte lacquered tone, our spray team works with your specified finishes to deliver richness, durability, and elegance.
Disassembly & Wrapping: Once approved, the piece is carefully disassembled if needed and wrapped for protection. We know this isn’t flat-pack furniture, it’s craftsmanship, and we treat it as such.
Delivery & Installation: Our installation team ensures every piece is fitted perfectly and respectfully within the wider interior scheme. We liaise with you and the site team throughout, so there are no surprises on install day.
Final Sign-Off: Only when you're satisfied is the job complete. We walk the space with you and check every detail, ensuring the furniture not only fits but feels right in its new home.
Every designer has felt the anxiety of handing over creative control. At Innovate, we turn that anxiety into confidence. Our process is transparent, collaborative, and obsessive about detail, because we know what’s at stake.
If you're looking for a furniture partner who values your vision as much as you do, we'd love to show you around the workshop.